well my friend thinks it's gay to call your boyfriend sweetie.
Youre friend's probably goin through a hard time lol, it's totally normal to call your boyfriend whatever puts you at ease, bae, babe, baby, honey, horse. Whatever makes you happy with what you call him, that's what matters, and screw the rest :D
is baby, bae, babe or sweetie used only for girls/women or both genders ?
If youre bromanced with a guy, I guess you can call him cute pet names, lol, but no seriously tho, I think it's much better and it feels more right to say that to your girlfriend/boyfriend. So yeah, each of the following is better said to couples. Not friendzoned people, lol